This Field Learning activity focuses on a small but culturally packed location set in the picturesque hills surrounding Florence. Settignano occupies one of the Florentine hills and offers a panoramic view of the entire valley and the Florence city center, located less than half an hour away. The town’s fascinating layout, including a central square and charming streets, has always attracted creative types such as artists, writers, and musicians from Italy and abroad - Gabriele D’Annunzio, Mark Twain, and the painters of the Macchiaioli movement. A significant location of the activity features Villa Gamberaia and its gardens, a historic 17th century villa whose building planning and landscaping design have been a constant source of study and analysis for architectural historians.Itinerary:

Morning departure from Florence to Settignano. Walking tour of the town, including the main piazza, the picturesque streets that surround it, and the panoramic “terrazza,” from which to enjoy the spectacular view of Florence in the Arno valley below; guided visit to the Villa Gamberaia. Time to work on FL assignments and free time. Return to Florence in the late afternoon.

The activity includes:

Round-trip transportation

Entry fees and guided visit of selected sites

Field learning staff on-site

Insurance

The activity does not include:

Meals not listed above

Entrance fees or costs associated to sites/activities visited on one's own

Learning outcomes:

Become acquainted with the history and cultural significance of this small town just outside Florence

Analyze the draw of Settignano for artists and writers, and the way in which it inspired their works

Understand the genesis of the Villa Gamberaia and subsequent interventions on the building and its gardens

Assess the achievements of Renaissance architecture outside of Florence